The dates of the 81st Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo have been set for July 18-20, 2014, with the weigh station operating from 10:00am - 7:00pm on Friday and Saturday, and from 10:00am - 5:00pm on Sunday. Fishing will begin with a ceremonial cannon blast on Friday, July 18th at 5:00am and will conclude with an additional ceremonial cannon blast on Sunday, July 20th at 5:00pm. Recognized in 2011 as the World’s Largest Fishing Tournament by Guinness World Records, the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo typically attracts over 3,000 anglers competing in 30 categories for nearly $500,000 in cash and prizes. Over the last 10 years, the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo has donated more than $200,000 towards marine research and scholarships to the University Of South Alabama Department Of Marine Science.

The 56th Annual Roy Martin Young Anglers Tournament, sponsored by Exxon-Mobil, will be held Saturday, July 12th. The weigh station will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. with the tournament beginning at 5:00 a.m. This event is open to all anglers 15 years old and younger. Every angler that enters a fish will receive a Zeigler hot dog, a bag of Golden Flake potato chips, an ice cold Coca Cola, and a Blue Bell ice cream. The proceeds from the Roy Martin Young Angler’s Tournament will go towards the annual Children’s Christmas Shopping Tour sponsored by the Mobile Jaycees. The awards ceremony for the Roy Martin Young Anglers Tournament will be held immediately following the tournament at the ADSFR site. The Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo is proud to host Doug Houston’s Kids Wishing to go Fishing Project at the Roy Martin Young Anglers Tournament.

The festivities for the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo will kick-off at the Rodeo site with the Bayou Rum Liar’s Contest on Thursday, July 17th at 6:30PM. Rodeo ticket holders can participate in the competition by telling their best, or worst, fish tale. A “distinguished” panel of invited judges will determine the winners. Live music by Rollin’ in the Hay will follow the Liar’s Contest. Anyone interested in participating as a “Liars Contestant” should contact the Jaycee office at 251-471-0025. This event is free and open to the public.

Every angler that weighs in a legal fish in the 81st Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo will be entered into a drawing for a 21’ Contender Boat outfitted with a Yamaha motor with trailer. In addition to the ADSFR Open Competition, anglers may also enter any of our Jackpots:

The Pronto Pawn King Mackerel Jackpot pays cash for 1st through 10th place with a 1st place prize of $10,000 based on 125 entries. SYN-FAB will provide a flat screen television to the daily winners of the King Mackerel Jackpot. There will also be a random drawing for a Honda Recon 4-wheeler among all anglers who enter an eligible fish in the King Mackerel Jackpot. The top 23’ & under boat will receive a Raymarine Dragonfly GPS/ Sonar with Down Vision. An optional cash prize division will be available for all king mackerel jackpot participants.

The Raymarine Big Game Jackpot pays cash for the largest Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo, and Swordfish. In addition, there will be two random drawings among all anglers that enter an eligible fish in the Big Game jackpot for a Team Simco Boatlift and a Raymarine Dragonfly GPS/ Sonar with Down Vision. An optional cash prize division is available for all big game jackpot participants, with no additional entry fee required.

The Carolina Skiff / Sunrise Marine Speckled Trout Jackpot will pay cash for 1st through 10th place. There will be a random drawing from all anglers weighing a legal speckled trout for a Carolina Skiff 18’ JVX with a Yamaha 70 hp motor with trailer. The top angler in the Speckled Trout Jackpot Non-Motorized Division will win a Bote Board provided by Bote Paddle Boards. There will also be multiple random drawings from all anglers who weigh a fish in the Non-Motorized Division. An optional cash prize division will be available for all speckled trout jackpot participants.

There is a MANDATORY Captain’s Meeting and Sign-Out for all boats entered in the Raymarine Big Game Jackpot, Pronto Pawn King Mackerel Jackpot, and the optional cash prize divisions. The meetings will be at the ADSFR site on Dauphin Island and J&M Tackle in Orange Beach on Thursday July 17th from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Anglers that are unable to attend the Captain’s Meetings must sign-out at the ADSFR site by Friday, July 18, 2014 at 5 a.m. Late sign-out will not be available in Orange Beach.

The McConnell Automotive Awards Ceremony for the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo will be held on Monday, July 21st at the Greater Gulf States Fairgrounds starting at 6:00pm.

2014 Rules Changes

• The grouper category will be divided into two separate categories, Red Grouper and Gag Grouper. Scamp will remain a separate category.
• Lane Snapper will not be a category in the 81st ADSFR.
• Red Drum will be measured to pinched tail length.
• The Speckled Trout jackpot will remain an angler ticket, rather than a boat ticket. Cost is $25 per angler. This change was made to better accommodate kayak anglers. Anglers wishing to participate in the Speckled Trout optional cash prize division will do so on a per angler basis, not on a per boat basis.
• An additional entry fee will not be required for entry into the optional cash prize divisions.
• Anglers in the Cash Prize Division will be able to sweep categories.